Probiotics in Dental Caries Prevention

2019 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Padmapriya Ramanujam ◽  
Saravanan Poorni ◽  
Manali Ramakrishnan Srinivasan ◽  
Nivedhitha Malli Sureshbabu

The prevalence of oral diseases is increasing and is becoming a major concern in the society. Treatment without prevention is simply unsustainable. One such preventable disease is dental caries. Several strategies for caries prevention have been developed over the years. Bacteriotherapy is one potential method. With better understanding on the importance of a well balanced oral microbial environment for maintaining good dental health, probiotics has gained great momentum in dentistry. The World Health Organization along with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations defined probiotics as “Live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host”. Several probiotic strains have been identified for caries prevention through various experimental studies. However, identifying the right vehicle for administration of probiotics on everyday basis is the need of the hour. Toothpastes, mouthrinses, powders, tablets, lozenges, chewing gums are some probiotic vehicles that have been studied. This paper would throw light on the microbial strains, mechanism of action, forms and future for probiotics in caries prevention.

2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Karolina Gerreth ◽  
Dorota Olczak-Kowalczyk ◽  
Maria Borysewicz-Lewicka

The problem of treatment of patients with special health needs resulting from the presence of deficits in intellectual, motor or sensory functions, also in dentistry, has not been comprehensively solved. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 15% of the world population has some form of disability. Patients with disabilities are considered to have greater dental treatment needs in comparison to healthy individuals. High incidence and intensity of dental caries as well as frequent gum diseases are observed in this environment. Often the situation is related, among other, to the presence of systemic diseases and the treatment used, limitations in shaping proper dental health behaviors, insufficient knowledge of parents about oral health or barriers in access to dental care. The development of recommendations for parents/caregivers as well as medical staff is required to improve the health of these patients and quality of their life. The document contains information on the etiology and epidemiology of dental caries in patients with disabilities but also prophylactic recommendations for this population of patients and their parents/caregivers and dentists.


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 2032
Author(s):  
Shanthi Ramesh ◽  
S. Sundari

Background: Dental caries is commonly seen among school children. The World Health Organization has stated it to be one of the leading non-communicable diseases. Objective of study the prevalence of dental caries among school children and to study the oral hygiene practices in the occurrence of dental caries.Methods: This cross-sectional study included 307 school children aged 10-15 years. Each child was asked about the dental hygiene practices and was examined for the presence of caries.Results: The prevalence of dental caries among school children was found to be 48.9 % with the 95% CI of 43.3% - 54.4%. The prevalence of dental caries was high among children 10-12 years of age 95(53.6%) compared to 55 (42.3%) among children in the age group of 13-15 years (p=0.05). Daily sweet consumption was significantly associated with a higher prevalence 40 (63.5%) of dental caries (p=0.01). Children not consuming vegetables and fruits everyday had a higher prevalence 76.5% dental caries (p = 0.03). Children who are not practicing night brushing had a higher prevalence of 112 (52.8%) of caries (p=0.04). The study showed that only 17.3% of the children visited a dental health care service.Conclusion: Authors found the prevalence of dental caries to be high. Health education regarding the importance of good oral hygiene practices such as night brushing, diet modification and periodic dental visits to all the school children will play a major role in the prevention of dental caries.


2021 ◽  
pp. 7-7
Author(s):  
Bojana Davidovic ◽  
Mirjana Ivanovic ◽  
Dejan Bokonjic ◽  
Svjetlana Jankovic ◽  
Jelena Eric ◽  
...  

Background / Aim. Asthma is a chronic inflammatory lung disorder. The effect of asthma drugs on oral health is still the subject of debate among researchers in dentistry. The aim of this study was to evaluate dental status in asthmatic children and evaluate the possible effect of drugs treating asthma on dental health. Methods. Participants were divided into two groups: the asthma (AG) and the non-asthma (NAG) group. Based on symptoms of the asthma and possibility for effective control of the disease, the asthma group was divided into two subgroups. The oral examination of the teeth was performed by the use of probe and mouth mirror under artificial light in accordance with World Health Organization recommendations. Saliva analysis was carried out by GC Saliva-Check Buffer. Results. The present study included 136 children aged from 6 to 16 years. The mean dmft/DMFT (decayed, missing, filled, teeth) of children in the AG group (6.0?4.0/3.3?4.4) was higher than in the NAG group (4.8?4.4/2.5?3.4), but significant differences were not observed between the groups. Salivary pH values were found to be similar in both groups, but a stimulated salivary flow rate was found to be significantly lower in the AG group (p<0.01). Conclusion. Although the prevalence of dental caries in the AG group was similar to the NAG group in this study, decreased stimulated salivary flow rate in the AG group may contribute to higher values of dental caries in asthmatic children in future.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
S Thomas ◽  
R Chacko ◽  
G D Khanapur ◽  
D Kattula ◽  
A Rose

Abstract Background Children suffer a significant burden of oral diseases which impacts their quality of life, and general health. Many epidemiological studies have looked at oral health status and treatment needs among children in urban and rural areas across different age groups. There was limited literature assessing the oral health status among children in tribal areas, which presents unique challenges in terms of: topography, availability of health services, and complex socio-cultural health practices. Methods Cross-sectional study was conducted among 655 children across six schools between 12-15 years in Jawadhi Hills, Tamil Nadu, India. World Health Organization's, Oral Health Surveys were used for clinical and risk factor assessments. Clinical examination was conducted, and self-assessed questionnaire was administered to the children to assess the risk factors to poor oral health. Since dental fluorosis was common, drinking water samples were collected to assess fluoride levels in the community. Results Prevalence of dental caries and gingivitis (gum disease) was found to be 22.3% and 87.3% respectively. Dental Pain was reported by 57% of children as the most common reason to visit the dentist. Prevalence of dental fluorosis was found to be 53.6%. Multiple logistic regression showed: gender, dental fluorosis, diet, and maternal education significantly associated (p &lt; 0.005) with dental caries. Fluoride levels in water was found to be higher than permissible limits (&gt;1.5 ppm). Conclusions Children requiring treatment (∼ 200) were referred to the local hospital, and treatment was done free-of-cost. School authorities were informed about the current oral health status of children and advised to conduct regular health education & dental camps; the importance of girls' education was emphasized. Local authorities were alerted about the fluoride-rich water situation in the community and educated about defluoridation methods that the community can employ at household level. Key messages Evidence-based burden of oral diseases was presented to the local authorities for the first time, with a call for action. A referral system was established between the schools and the local hospital, to ensure continuity of oral health care for the children.


2019 ◽  
Vol 09 (03) ◽  
pp. e268-e274
Author(s):  
Kathleen M. Antony ◽  
Peter N. Kazembe ◽  
Ryan M. Pace ◽  
Judy Levison ◽  
Jesse Mlotha-Namarika ◽  
...  

Objectives The objective of this study was to determine the rate of dental caries and periodontal disease among gravid and recently postpartum women at five delivery centers within and surrounding Lilongwe, Malawi. Study Design We partnered with obstetric specialists, community health workers, and dentists to perform dental history interviews and dental examinations during the study period from December 2012 to May 2014. Dental examinations were performed according to World Health Organization standards to assess periodontal and oral health status. Results Among the 387 gravid and recently postpartum women, the rate of dental caries was 69.3% and the rate of composite dental disease (caries and periodontal disease) was 76.7%. The majority (69.5%) of women examined had a decayed-missing-filled (DMF) index greater than or equal to one; the average DMF Index was 2.48. The majority of women had never seen a dentist (62.8%). However, most did perform oral hygiene, two or more times per day (90.2%); most women reported brushing with toothpaste (88.1%). Conclusion When assessing this population for dental caries and periodontal disease, the rate of dental disease was high. Therefore, this may be an ideal setting to test for impactful interventions aimed at reducing caries and periodontal disease.


Author(s):  
Mohamed A. A. Mahdy ◽  
Waleed Younis ◽  
Zamzam Ewaida

A novel coronavirus has been reported as the causative pathogen of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in Wuhan city, China in December 2019. Due to the rapid spread of the virus worldwide, it has been announced as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). Hospitalized patients in Wuhan were associated with the Huanan seafood wholesale market where live animals, such as poultry, bats, snakes, frogs, rabbits, marmots, and hedgehogs are sold in that market which suggests a possible zoonotic infection. It was suggested that bat is the natural host of SARS-CoV-2, but the intermediate host is still unclear. It is essential to identify the potential intermediate host to interrupt the transmission chain of the virus. Pangolin is a highly suspected candidate as an intermediate host for SARS-CoV-2. Recently, SARS-CoV-2 infection has been reported in cats, dogs, tigers, and lions. More recently SARS-CoV-2 infection affected minks severely and zoonotic transfer with a variant SARS-CoV-2 strain evidenced in Denmark, Netherlands, USA, and Spain suggesting animal-to-human and animal-to-animal transmission within mink farms. Furthermore, experimental studies documented the susceptibility of different animal species to SARS-CoV-2, such as mice, golden hamsters, cats, ferrets, non-human primates, and treeshrews. It is also essential to know the possibility of infection for other animal species. This short review aims to provide an overview on the relation between severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and animals.


2014 ◽  
Vol 02 (01) ◽  
pp. 009-015
Author(s):  
Vaibhav Munjal ◽  
Ritu Jindal ◽  
Rohini Dua ◽  
Ripin Garewal ◽  
Parveen Bathla

Abstract Aim: This study was done to evaluate correlation of Dental Caries status with frequency of tooth brushing, type of toothpaste and regular dental visits in children. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out randomly on 2500 school children of two age groups viz. 12 and 15 years, and caries examination was done using WHO (World Health organization) 1997 criteria in order to correlate with various risk factors viz. brushing frequency, use of fluoridated/non-fluoridated toothpaste and frequency of child's visit to dental clinic. Results: In both the age groups brushing frequency and type of toothpaste used insignificantly affected caries while evidence that frequency of child's visit to dental clinic reduces caries risk was also not substantial. Conclusion: The present study implicates that due to complex multifactorial nature of dental caries, its prevention still remains an enigma for the dental professional and society.


2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (02) ◽  
pp. 215-219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vellore Kannan Gopinath

ABSTRACT Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the percentage of 5-year-old preschoolers in Sharjah, affected by dental erosion and to assess the predictors. Materials and Methods: A total of 403 5-year-old children were examined of which 48.14% (n = 194) were boys and 51.86% (n = 209) were girls; 31.27% (n = 126) were Emirati and 68.73% (n = 277) were non-Emirati Arabs. Examination of dental erosion was confined to palatal surfaces of maxillary incisors using the erosion index described in the UK National Survey of Children's Dental Health, 1993. Dental caries was charted using the World Health Organization 1997 criteria. Results: In the sample of 403 5-year-old preschoolers examined, dental erosion was apparent in 237 (58.80%) children, with 55.09% showing the dissolution of enamel and 3.72% exhibiting exposed dentin. Predictors of dental erosion as determined by logistic regression concluded that compared to Emirati citizens other Arab nationalities have 0.27 times the odds (95% confidence interval [CI] =0.18–0.42) of having tooth erosion (P < 0.05). Children with caries experience have 0.28 times the odds (95% CI = 0.16–0.51) of having tooth erosion compared to children with no caries experience (P < 0.05). Children who drink sugary or carbonated beverages have 0.30 times the odds (95% CI = 0.19–0.41) of having dental erosion compared to children who drink water (P < 0.05). Conclusions: The findings of this study indicate that 58.80% of 5-year-old preschoolers in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, were affected by dental erosion. Caries experience and consumption of acidic drinks were associated with dental erosion.


2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (12) ◽  
pp. 6206-6214
Author(s):  
Zerrin Hatipoğlu ◽  
Damla Akşit-Bıçak

Objective We sought to evaluate the association of maternal anxiety and social status with caries formation in children. Methods Participants comprised 258 pairs of children and their mothers. We collected information regarding age, sex, birth order of children, and mothers’ education and marital status using a questionnaire. The Spielberger Trait Anxiety Inventory was used to determine maternal trait anxiety levels. The children underwent oral examination. Total values for decayed, missing, filled, and total permanent/primary teeth (DMFT/dmft) were evaluated according to standards of the World Health Organization. Results No significant relationship was found between the mother's anxiety level and DMFT/dmft scores in their children. A negative correlation was observed between the child’s age and dental caries in children. The sex of the child, mother's education level, and marital status of the mother showed a weak negative correlation with the number of dental caries observed in their children. Conclusion Although social, economic, and environmental factors might contribute substantially to the development of dental caries, we failed to demonstrate a clear relationship between maternal anxiety and social status and dental caries in children. We can therefore conclude that biological factors are decisive in the formation of dental caries among children.


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